Electric signaling and indicating system



27, 1940- M. M. MORACK 2,213,091

ELECTRIC SIGNALING AND INDICATING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet I Fig I.

Inventor: Marvin M. Morack by X7 639 His AttOTngg.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING AND INDICATING SYSTEM Inverfitor: Marvin M. Mor-ack,

by if/wy'u mw H is Attorngg- Patented Aug. 27,1940

- UNITED STATES 2.213.091- EIECTRIO srcnmc AND mmoa'rme SYSTEM Y M, Morack, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 24, 1936, Serial N ssau 2Claims. (01. 1174311) My invention relates to 'electric signaling'and indicating systems, and more particularly to elec-' tric signaling and indicating systems adapted to indicate the occurrence of a plurality of events.

and the sequence of such events.

In electric circuits it is frequently desirable to provide signaling and indicating systems for in-- dicating in which of a plurality of electric circuits electrical conditions of a predetermined character have occurred, and it is also desirable to pro-- vide means for indicating the circuits and the sequence in which the electrical conditions have occurred in the various circuits. There has also r been evidenced a need for an electricalcircuit to indicate which of a plurality of devices have operated and for indicating the sequence iii-which the devices have operated. The need for' this type of system is particularly great where the devices operate in rapid succession.

It is an object of myinvention to provide an improved electric signaling and indicating system to show in which circuits of a plurality of elec trio circuits electrical conditions of a predetermined character have occurred.

It is another object of my invention to provide an electric signaling and indicating circuit. to

indicate the sequence in which a plurality of' events have occurred.

It'is still another object of my invention to providean-improved electric signaling and indicating systemto indicate the electric circuits in a plurality of electric circuits in which electrical impulses of a predetermined character have occurred and to indicate the sequence in which the electrical impulses have occurred. It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved electrical system to indicate which devices of a plurality of devices have operated and to indicate the sequence in which the devices have operated.

In accordance with the illustrated" embodiment of my invention I provide a signaling an indicating system to indicate in which circui of a plurality of circuits electrical conditions, of a predetermined character have obtained and to 0 indicate the sequence in which the conditions have obtained on the-various electrical circuits.

- I have illustrated my invention as applied to an electric valve translating circuit for indicating the sequence in which the main power valves arcback. To accomplish this result-I provide a plucult" to indicate the electric circuits in which 'tively, and circuit interrupting devices l3, l4 and '15 to the associated electric valves 4, 5 and 6, respectively. To disconnect the transformer 3 25, respectively. The interrupting devices l3, I4

Fora better understanding of my invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference may be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the'accompanying drawings, and-its scope will be pointed 5- out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of my invention as applied to an electric translating cirelectrical conditions of a'predetermined character have occurred and to indicate that electric circuit in which the first electrical condition of that character has occurred. Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings shows diagrammatically a 15 modified embodiment of my invention as applied to an electric translating circuit and which is arranged to provide an indication of the sequence in which three electric circuits experience a pre- I determined electricalcondition. v 20 Referring now to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown. an embodiment of my invention as applied to an electric translating circuit for supplying unidirectional current to the load circuit I from a poly-phase alternating current circuit 2, through a transformer 3 and electric valves 4, '5 and 6. Secondaryv windings I, 8 and 9 of the transformer 3 are connected. through electric circuits Ill, H and I2, respecfrom the electric valves 4, 5 and 6 I employ interrupting devices l3, l4 and i5 which are normally biased to the open circuit position by means of springs I6, and which are arranged to be operated to the open circuit position by means "of a tripping and operating mechanism comprising electro-responsive windings l1, l8 and I9, plungers 20, 2| and 22, and latches 23, 24 and and I5 are provided with a ary sets of sta tionary contacts 26, 21 and 28, "spectively, and with movable contacts 29, 30 and 3|, respectively.

It will beunderstood that the electro-responsive windings l1, l8 and I9 may beniade responsive to any desired operating condition such as overload, reverse current, excessive voltage, arc-back, speed, etc., depending upon the nature of the circuit or device and the condition to be controlled. v

To provide a system fori'ndicating which circuit of the electric translating system has exf perienced electrical impulses of a predetermined character, I employ a group 32 of voltage-re- 65 rent flowing through the valves will be limitedtype, the characteristics of which are well known to those skilled in the art. These glow valves are characterized by requiring a predetermined critical minimum potential to eifect ionization of 'the valves and hence to render the valves conductive. It will be well understood by those skilled in the art that if a potential exceeding the characteristic minimum potential is impressed upon the terminals of the valves, the valves will be rendered conductive and the curonly by the internal resistance of the valves. 3 It will be further understood that after valves of this type have been rendered conductive by the application of a voltage exceeding the minimum critical potential, the electric valves may be maintained'conductive by the application of a potential'considerably below the minimum crit-' ical potential. Since the valves have a negative resistance-current characteristic, it is necessary to employ current limiting means such as resistances connected in series with the valves to maintain the current within predetermined safe limits to prevent destruction of the valves. To accomplish this result I- employ current limiting resistances 40 connected in series with the glow discharge valves 33, 34 and 35 and animpedance element such as a current limiting resistance 4| connected in series with the group of valves 36. Predetermined 'glow discharge valves in the groups of valves 32 and 3,8 are arranged to be energized from a direct current source 42 through the auxiliary sets of associated stationary and movable contacts 26, 29; 21, 30; 28, 3|, upon the operation of circuit interrupting devices |3, |4 and I5.

Glow discharge valves 33 and 31 are connected to be energized from the source of current 42 through the auxiliary set of contacts 26 and 23 of circuit interrupter l3 through a. conductor 43.

Glow discharge valves 34 and 38 are connected to be energized from the source of current 42 through the auxiliary set ofcontacts 21 and 30 of circuit interrupter l4 through a conductor 44; and glow discharge valves 35 and 39 are connected to be energized from the source of currentv 42 through the auxiliary set of contacts 28 and 3| of circuit interrupter l5 through aconductor 45. It will be understood, therefore, that glow discharge valves 33 and 31 may be arranged to indicate the condition of circuit-interrupting device I3, and glow discharge valves 34 and 33, and 35 and 33 may be connected to indicate a condition of circuit-interrupting devices 4- and I 5, respectively.

The value of the resistance 4| is so chosen that after one glow discharge valve of the group 36' has been energized, the voltage drop across the remain non-conductive upon the occurrence of subsequent predetermined electrical conditions or impulses.

The operation of the embodiment of my invention as represented in Fig. 1 may be best explained by considering the system when the translating circuit is supplying energy from the alternating current circuit 2 to the direct current load circuit I through the transformer 3 and electric valves 4, 5 and 6. During normal operation of the translating circuit, the circuit interrupting devices I3, I 4 and I5 will be retained in the closed' circuit position by virtue of the latching mechanisms 23, 24 and 25, respectively.

Circuit interrupting devices l3, l4 and 5 may be arranged to interrupt circuits IO, N and I2 upon the occurrence of overload, reverse current or upon the occurrence of any predetermined electrical condition of the system. During normal operation of the system the groups 32 and 36 of glow discharge valves will not be energized. Let it be assumed that due to some irregularity in the operation of the circuit, such as an overload, reverse current, or a short circuit condition in the windings of transformer 3 an electrical impulse of suflicient magnitude-is established to induce in the winding associated with circuit interrupting device I3 of circuit l0, a current which causes the tripping of latch 23.

The auxiliary movable contact 29 associated with the circuit interrupting mechanism I3 is made to engage with the stationary contacts 26, thereby resulting in the energization of glow discharge 31 of group 35. Since the voltage impressed uponv these valves from the source 42 is greater than the critical minimum ionizing potential of the valves, the valves will be rendered conductive. i

Let it further be assumed that a subsequent electrical impulse occurs in circuit II, so as to cause movement of the circuit interrupting device |4to its open position; By virtue of such operation. the auxiliary movable contact 30 of the circuit interrupting device l4 will'be made to engage the auxiliary stationary contacts 21 to effect application of a potential upon the terminals of glow discharge valves 34 and 38 of groups 32 and 35, respectively. Inasmuch as glow discharge valves 33, 34 and 35 are energized through suitable individual resistances 40, the potential effective across the terminals of glow discharge valve 34 may be maintained above the critical minimum ionizing potential and cause ionization of valve 34 even though valve 33 is conductive. However, since glow discharge valve 38 is energized in parallel with valves 31 and 39 through a resistance 4|, the voltage-impressed across the terminals of valve 38 may be smaller than the critical minimum ionizing potential of the valve and hence this resultant potential is inefiective to render it conductive.

Under these particular conditions, it will be apparent-that the group 32 of glow discharge valves indicates that abnormal conditions have obtained in electric circuits Ill and II and that circuit interrupting devices l3 and I 4 have been moved to the open circuit position. The group 35 of glow discharge valves indicates, inasmuch as valve 31 is conductive, that the irregularity and the incident electrical impulse first occurred in electric circuit l0 and that the associated circuit interrupting device I 3 was the first to operate.

' If it be assumed that abnormal electrical impulses occur in rapid succession in circuits I 3,

valve 33 of group 32 and glow discharge valve 2,213,091 llland l2 in the order named, it will be understood that glow discharge valves 33, 34 and 35 of group 32 will be rendered conductive to indl- V cate that such impulses have occurred in all oi the circuits. Glow discharge valve 31 in group 36 will also be conductive to aflord an indication that electric circuit ill-was the first to experionce an electrical impulse. As a further exam-- ple, if an electrical impulse incident to an abnormalcondition of the circuit occurs first in circuit II and subsequent impulses occur in circuits l and I2, valves 33, 34 and 35 will be rendered conductive to show that irnegularities have indicating the sequence in which the electrical impulses have occurred in the various circuits. Unidirectional current is supplied to the load circuit 56 from the polyphase supply circuit M through a transformer 48 and electric valves 49, 50 andtl. Circuit interrupting devices 52, 53 and 5d are arranged to connect the terminals of the secondary windings 55 of transformer 58 to electric valves 39, 5t! and ill through electric circuits 56, 51 and 58. The circuit interrupting devices 52, 53 audit! are provided with auxiliary sets of contacts 59, 60 and ti, respectively, to energize' predetermined voltage-responsive elements to be described hereinafter. Suitable electro-re sponsive devices 52, t3 and E i are associated with circuit interrupting means 52,53 and 56 to trip the circuit interrupting device upon the occurrence of predetermined electrical impulses in the associated electric circuits.

To'provide an indication of the electric circuits in which electrical impulses of ap'redetermined character have occurred or for providing an indication of the position of the circuit interruptingdevices 52, 53 and Fad, I employ a group $5 of voltage-responsive elements G6, 67 and 68' energized from a source of. potential 39 through suitable individual resistances iii. A group H of voltage-responsive elements l2, l3 and id energized through a resistance 75 is provided to indicate the first d second circuits of a plurality of circuits in w 'ch electrical impulses of a pre determinedcharacter have occurred. Individual. resistances W are connected in series relation with electric valves lzl icof group ll. Another group it comprising voltage-responsive elements l7, l8 and is energized from the source of current lit through a resistance this provided to indicate that circuit of a plurality of circuits which has been the first circuit. to experience an electrical impulse of a predetermi ed character.

. The voltage-responsive elements gt to m, inclusive, i2 to'ifl, inclusive, and ll to W inclusive,

may be glow discharge valves of the type having aqicri tical minimum-potential ionizing characteris ic.

To arrange the group it to aflord an indication .of the first and second circuits, of circuits at, El and 58, in which there havebeen electrical impulses of apredetermined character,-I em- L) .ploy the resistance 15 having a value such that the voltage drop due to the current required by one value will not be great enough to reduce the resultant potential to a value below the critical.

minimum ionizing potential for the other valves in the group. However, after two valves in group.

II have been rendered conductive, the voltage drop of resistance 15 incident to the current of .these two valves will reduce the effective potential available for the third,valve to a potential below the critical minimum ionizing potential. In other words, only two valves of group ll may be conductive at the same time-.

The value of resistance 80, connected in series with the group 16 is of such amagnitude that only one of the valves may be conductive at the same time. Hence group 16 will indicate the first circuit to be subjected to an electrical variation of. a predetermined character. i

It will be understood that glow discharge valve 66,12 and 11 are associated with electric circuit 56 and circuit-interrupter 52. Likewise, glow discharge valves 61, 13 and 18 are associated with circuit 51 and circuit-interrupter 53,"and glow discharge valves 68, M and IQ-are associated with circuit 58 and circuit-interrupter 54.

To explain the operation of the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Fig. 2, the system may be first considered during normal operation, that is when the direct current load circuit 86 is being energized from the alternating current source 31. Thecircuit interrupting devices 3 52, 53 and 54 are adjusted'to open upon the occurrence of a predetermined electrical condition of the electric circuits 5B, 57 and 58. If it is assuined that an electrical impulse of a predetermined character occurs inelectric circuit 5 circuit interrupting device 52 will be moved to the open circuit position to effect closure of the auxiliary sets of contacts 59. Upon closure of the;

auxiliary sets of contacts 59, a potential is applied to glow discharge valves 66, i2 and H of groups 65, l! and '86, respectively, As explained above in regard to the operation of the embodiment of my invention as shown in Fig. 1, electric valves 66, i2 and 77 will be rendered conductive to afiord an indication of the fact that an elec trical impulse of predetermined character has oc'- curred in the electric circuit 56. If it further be assumed that a subsequent electrical impulse ocours in electric circuit 51, circuit interrupting device 53 will be operated to the open circuit posi- I 1 tion, effecting thereby application of a voltage to glow discharge valves El, 13 and it of groups 65, ii and 76, respectively. As explained above,

inasmuch as the glow valve 67 is connected in series with an individual resistancelfl, the re- .sultant voltage impressed upon the terminals of the Valves til will be greater than the critical minimum potential"required to efiect ionization of this valve and, since the value of resistance 55 is r'elativelysmall as compared with the value of resistance 80, the drop in potential incident to the presence oi this resistance 15 in series with the group H will not be of sufficient value to reduce the voltage impressed across the terminals of valve '13 to a value below the critical minimum potentialfor valve 73. Of course, glow discharge valve 61 in group 65 will also be rendered conductive. ,In other words, electric valve 13 will be rendered conductive, the resistances Hi serving to maintain the voltage impressed on the valves sufficiently high so that two of the valves in group ll may be rendered conductive However,.since the value of resistance 86 is comparatively large, the voltage impressed across the'terminals of electric valve 18 will beless than the minimum critical; potential for that valve and a conductive.

hence valve 18 will remain non-conductive. If it be still further assumed that a third electrical impulse occurs subsequently in electriccircuit 58 there will be an application of voltage to glow discharge valves 68, 14 and 19. As explained above, valve 68 will be rendered conductive but valves I4 and 19 will remain non-conductive.

Under the conditions assumed-it will be apparent that group 64 indicates that certain impulses ha-ve occurred in circuits 56, 51 and 58 since glow discharge valves 66, 6'! and 68 are. Since glow valves 12 and 13 of the group H are conductive, there is an indication that electric circuit 51 was the circuit to receive the second electrical impulse. And, lastly, since glow valve H of group 16 is conductive, there is afforded an indication that the circuit 58 was the circuit in which the first electrical impulse had occurred.

It will be understood that the group 65 will under all conditions indicate all those circuits in which electrical impulses have occurred, group II will indicate those circuits in which the first and the second electrical impulses have occurred, and group 16 will indicate that circuit in which the first impulse has occurred. It, therefore, will be apparent that by inspection one may determine the sequence in which the electrical impulses have occurred in the various circuits or may determine the condition of the circuit in- -terrupting devices 52, 53 and '54.

While I have shown my invention as applied to an indicating system for an electric translating circuit for supplying energy to a direct current load circuit from an alternating current cir'- cuit, it will be understood that my invention in its broader aspects may be applied generally to systems in which it is desirable to obtain an indication as to which of a plurality of devices have operated and the sequence in which the devices have operated. Although I have shown theus'e of glow discharge valves in the capacity of voltage-responsive elements, it will be readily understood that I may use other elements having similar characteristics.

Although I, have shown my invention as comprising means to indicate all the circuits of a plurality of circuits to experience certain predetermined electrical impulses and to indicate in addition the first and second circuits to be so affected, it will readily occur to those skilled in the art that my invention-is not limited to anyparticular number of groups or number of circuits for which the order is indicated and may be readily embodied in other forms to indicate the third, fourth, etc. circuits which have experienced predetermined conditions. Such an arrangement may be obtained by providing additional groups of valves and utilizing resistances of predetermined values connected in series withthe various additional groups iri accordance with the disclosure of the'embodiment shown in Fig:

2. In such additional embodiments the values of resistances in circuit with each additional group must be chosen to provide the required voltage. drop to reduce the resultant voltage effective in the group to a value below the critical minimum potential for the valves when the desired number of valves have become conductive.

While I have shown and particularly described certain embodiments of my invention and certain methods of operation embraced therein for the purpose of explaining its principle and showing its application, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible without departing from my invention, and I aim, in the appended claims, to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, means for indicating the sequence of more than two occurrences comprising a plurality of groups oi glow discharge valves having a critical minimum potential ionizing characteristic, a source of electric potential having a value greater than said critical potential, a plurality of impedance elements each connected in series relation between said source and a different one of said groups, means actuated upon the first occurrence for effecting selective application of a predetermined component of potential of said source to a predetermined glow discharge-valve in each of said groups due to the fiow of current through the connected impedance element upon said first occurrence to render conductive said predetermined glow discharge valve in each of said groups, means actuated upon the second occurrence for eflecting selective application of a predetermined component of potential of said source to another predetermined glow discharge valve in all but one of said groups due to the flow of currentthrough the connected impedance elementsupon said second occurrence to render conductive said predetermined glow discharge valve in all but one of said groups, and means actuated upon the third occurrence for effecting selective application of a predetermined component of potential or said source to a different predetermined glow discharge valve in all but two of said groups due to the flow of current through the connected impedance elements upon said third occurrence to render conductive said predetermined glow discharge valve in all but twoof said groups;

2. In combination, means for indicating the sequence of more than two occurrences comprising at least one group of voltage responsive elements having a critical minimum operating potential characteristic, a source of potential, means comprising impedance elements connectedbetween said source and said voltage responsive elements to control selectively the component of potential of said source impressed thereon due to the flow of current through the impedance elements and the connected voltage responsive elements to permit operation of only a predeter- ,mined number of voltage responsive elements in MARVIN M. monaofi. 

